Roman Anthony & Marcelo Mayer Snubbed as Red Sox’s 29YO Addition Sparks Fan Uproar

The buzz is all around Fenway this week, with fans anticipating another strong statement from a surging Red Sox bullpen. After back-to-back wins against a division rival, all signs pointed to the club continuing its youth-first momentum. In the last four games against the Yankees, the Red Sox have been unbeatable. Naturally, fans were eager to watch Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, two of the most hyped rookies on the roster, leading the charge once again.

But when the lineup dropped for the upcoming game, neither name was there. Instead, the limelight focused on a surprising 29-year-old addition, sparking confusion and uproar across the fanbase. With both Anthony and Mayer benched against the Yankees, questions are now swirling: Was this a strategy or a step to go backward?

Chris Cotillo’s tweet summed it up bluntly: “No Mayer, no Anthony against Max Fried.” Two of Boston’s brightest young talents, Roman Anthony and Marcelo Mayer, were benched, and instead, catcher Connor Wong was given the place in a lineup that leaned heavily on excitement instead of experience. 

This move has been bombarded with recent trends. The Sox had just clawed their way back to .500 with a rookie-heavy spark, winning six of their last seven. Anthony had shown flashes of power and plate discipline, and Marcelo Mayer’s glove had stabilized the infield. Sitting both in a high-stakes rivalry game, while bringing in veteran options like Refsnyder and Toro, felt like a step of downgrade. Connor Wong, who was slotted in at catcher, became the unexpected centerpiece of the debate, despite being solid defensively and familiar with Boston’s pitching staff.

Alex Cora’s reasoning aimed at matchup caution. He cited the requirement to protect young lefties from an elite southpaw like Fried, but fans were not buying it. Talking about it, Cora had said, “I don’t know, maybe (the rookies will play) Friday, maybe Saturday, maybe Sunday. Let’s wait until we see the lefty, and then when you seen the lineup you guys can ask me. We have some good righties here. If we don’t play Romy (González), if we don’t play (Rob Refsnyder), is that good for the team? I get the whole conversation. I get that (the rookies) are great hitters, they’re great players, but those two guys are really good at what they do. We’re trying to win as many games as possible.” 

For fans, the frustration was not just about a lineup card; it was about hampering the momentum. With rookies producing and fans rallying around them, Wong’s presence, fair or not, felt like a symbol of safety over boldness.

Fan reactions boil over as Cora’s lineup decision comes under fire

The moment the Red Sox lineup dropped, multiple fans locked eyes on one list: Connor Wong. “Wong in the lineup, are we serious?” one fan reacted with frustration. Wong, despite an elite offensive showing in 2024, has taken a step back defensively this season. The star’s pitch framing and blocking metrics rank near the bottom among other catchers in MLB, which makes his selection over Carlos Narváez tough to justify for some. The defensive dip, specifically, in a vital game against a division competitor, set off alarms across the fans.

That alarm only got louder when another fan identified other vital omissions. “What is wrong with Duran?? And where’s Narváez?” that fan asked, echoing widespread disbelief. Jarren Duran’s drop in the lineup and Narváez’s full cut – puzzled fans. However, the larger twist lies beyond the day’s lineup. As per The Athletic’s Jim Bowden, the Red Sox are shopping an outfielder, with Duran being the likeliest to go. At 28 and under team control through 2028, the star is a valuable trade chip. Then, if we focus on Narvaez, we can see he had begun all the last four games and went 5-for-14 with three doubles, three walks, two runs and one RBI. Still, sidelining him at the period of a hot streak sparked more anxiety than acceptance.

However, the largest explosion came from a fan frustrated with Alex Cora’s continuous conservatism. “FIRE CORA! Send Mayer and or Anthony down if they are not ready to face lefties!” that fan fumed. It has become a recurring theme, Cora’s refusal to enable young lefty bats face elite southpaws. Sunday’s scratch of Roman Anthony and Mayer against Max Fried was classic Cora. While the manager claims it is related to safeguarding the star’s development, some fans see it as a handcuffing power that clearly wants to play.

Fuel was added to the fire by Mayer’s current performance. “Criminal not to have Mayer in there. He was incredible yesterday!” one fan reacted, highlighting Mayer’s current numbers. Although the numbers were not eye-popping — 0-for-2 with an RBI on, his defensive steadiness and confident presence had been noted. Benching Mayer after back-to-back wins over the Yankees felt tone-deaf to his fans, who think that the star is a rising pillar in the infield. For a team battling through inconsistency, pulling out the few stars working well does not sit right.

Another fan highlighted the overarching sentiment that tied it all together: “When will Cora learn? This kind of managing DOES NOT WORK! Let them play!” From the fans’ point of view, Cora’s mix-and-match style could be hurting more than helping. This is not the 1 st time Cora is facing backlash for his decision. Last month also after a loss to the Mets, Liam Hendriks highlighted his concerns related to not getting enough playing time, saying that the manager’s roster decisions contributed to the defeat. While analytics and matchup logic have their place, continuous tinkering — specifically, with young core stars — has backfired more than once. With the team fighting to stay relevant and still unsure of their trade deadline identity, its fans need clarity, trust in the youth and a manager who plays to win.

The frustration is not just related to one lineup — it is related to the message it sends. In a season hinging on youth, fans need to see the team trust its future. If the Red Sox think to keep Fenway filled and belief alive, it is time to listen to the noise.

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